First off, it’s not all the scanners that are being pulled, it’s just those manufactured by Rapiscan, about 170 in all, supposedly because the company couldn’t meet a Congressional mandate to modify the software in a way that quelled lingering concerns about screeners being able to see us in the buff. The other type of scanners, using millimeter wave technology, are to remain in service—and more will be rushed to airports to take the place of the mothballed ones.

But TSA had told us a long time ago that we shouldn’t worry about prying eyes, and fliers have always had the right to refuse a scanning and to opt for a pat-down instead (not that that’s much of a choice, but at least it’s there.) One of the most serious concerns with the Rapiscan machines was exposure to radiation, and despite TSA’s assurances, it was never adequately addressed.

And why not? The European Union in late 2011 banned the use of scanners relying on X-ray technology pending a more thorough investigation of the effects of repeated exposures to the radiation they emit. Israel's famously secure Ben Gurion airport doesn’t use them. And Israel continues to set the standard on effective security, not by loading up with hugely expensive technology, but by using trained interrogators to spot potentially suspicious travelers and to screen them accordingly.

So, what we should really be asking is: How effective would these machines be at catching a determined terrorist? As we reported in our November 2011 story, “Ten Years of TSA”, it's questionable whether these machines would have apprehended the infamous underwear bomber, even though that was the rationale for this huge acquisition to begin with. Within days of the 2009 X-mas day attempt, the TSA purchased several thousand advanced imaging machines at $150,000 each, and touted these full-body scanners as the best way to stop another bomber-in-briefs. But reports in late 2011 from the blue-ribbon panel that investigated 9/11 concluded that the full body scanners “are not effective at detecting explosives hidden within the body and raise privacy and health concerns.” In short, it’s not worth the effort.

The bottom line: If you have any concerns at all about these machines, just say no. Look for lanes that have the old-fashioned walk-through metal detectors or request a pat-down.